Age verification system

An age verification system, also known as simply age verification or age gate, is any technical system that externally verifies a person's age. These systems are used primarily to restrict access to content classified, either voluntarily or by local laws, as being inappropriate for users under a specific age, such as alcohol, tobacco, gambling, video games with objectionable content, pornography, or to remain in compliance with internet privacy laws that regulate the collection of personal information from minors, such as COPPA in the United States. Age verification systems have been criticized for privacy and computer security risks.

Age verification substantially increased in 2023–2024, with the passage of the Online Safety Act 2023 in the UK, a law in France, laws in eight U.S. states including Texas and Utah, and proposals at the national level in the US, Canada, Denmark, and the EU.

Age verification can be categorized into parental responsibility and online service provider responsibility. Age verification through online providers was associated with a general public distrust of the government.

Online age verification is distinct from the mandatory online identity registration used in some countries with techno-authoritarianism.

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